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Entangled Beta (Murder and Mayhem Omegaverse #2)
Entangled Beta (Murder and Mayhem Omegaverse #2)
Cassie Lein, Bre Rose | 2025 | Romance
8
8.0 (2 Ratings)
Book Rating
Murdery and Mayhemery indeed!
Independent reviewer for BookSirens, I was gifted my copy of this book.

This is book 2 in the Murder and Mayhem Omegaverse series. I have not read book one, Shattered Omega. I will come back to this point.

The title of this series is absolutely SPOT on! I mean, Sasha is . . .I mean, I LOVED Sasha and her murdery tendencies! She is who she is, and once she talks to Levi, her Alpha, she makes no apologies for being who she is. It really is needed, the on page violence that she inparts on certain folks who darn well deserve what they get coming to them!

But I also felt, deeply, for Sasha. Since she is a beta, and not an omega, when Levi finds his Kismet Omega, she feels she may be pushed out. Now, I think she didn't give Levi enough credit for how he feels about Sasha, but add Stone into the mix, another Alpha, and with Flynn being the omega in the pack, it's understandable how she loved.

I loved that Stone crept up on both Levi and Sasha. Flynn was another story. Flynn was in everyone's mind from the minute they saw his picture and met him. But Flynn has suffered, badly, and needs time. I love that the Alphas gave him that time, and allowed Flynn to heal before starting something new with everyone.

It's steamy and the smexy times are plentiful, but they do not overtake the plotline, and I did love that. I do love the smexy books, but I need a plotline with them!

Back to not reading the first book. I think I maybe missed *something* by not doing. I can't pinpoint exactly what it was, and my book brain will not release what's bothering it, but there was that tiny niggle at the back of my brain for the whole book.

This point, and that fact it is present tense, multi POV AND first person are the only reasons I give this book. . .

4 solid stars

 I do need to go back at some point and read book one before I get to book 3, which I really REALLY want to read, especially after reading that blurb and who I think that it!

*same worded review will appear elsewhere
  
Christmas Mafia Prince (The Naughty List)
Christmas Mafia Prince (The Naughty List)
K.A. Merikan | 2025 | Contemporary, Crime, LGBTQ+, Romance
10
10.0 (2 Ratings)
Book Rating
dark, nutty and so flipping cute!
Independent reviewer for GRR, I was gifted my copy of this book.

This is part of The Naughty List series, the first one published. If they are all as good as this, I'm ALL in!

This book, right? It's freaking nuts and sexy and dark and deadly, and yes, I tagged it too stinking cute, because it is!

Damen wants to join the annual Christmas family hunt. he can't, because he isn't married. Well, he'll show his father, right? And the perfect opportunity lands, quite literally, in his lap, in the space of Killian. Killian really has no idea what just happened, but now he's on a luxury jet, fake married to the sexiest man he ever saw and heading for something he isn't quite sure he will fit into.

This book is dark and deadly. The Hunt they are doing? Enemies kept alive for this sole purpose. But Killian doesn't know that, at first. When he finds out, he's shocked, yes but it then explains a lot. Damen is assassin for his family.

It's smexy, oh so VERY smexy! The chemistry between these two is scorching hawt and burns strong and high, right through the book.

It's cute, because Damen is smitten with his husband, almost from the very first meeting and more so, when Killian stands up to Damen's father. And when Killian does what he does before The Hunt?? Oooofff that man is turned the fluff on! But it's not just the smexy bits with Damen. He really does thing Killian is The One,even if it started as a fake thing.

But the best bit?? I couldn't see where this was going for a long time! And I loved that. Obviously I knew it would go belly up at some point, but I couldn't see it coming and I did NOT see what the rather jealous brother was doing!!

AND!!!!!!!!!!!! First person, present tense, mulit point of view! Didn't even notice til I was writing this up!

I have listened to some KA Merikan, I love the Wrong Side of the Tracks series and this book has all those hallmarks of starting an amazing series with some very interesting characters, Corvus and Aspen especially!

5 full and slightly deranged but so bloody good, stars!

*same worded review will appear elsewhere
  
The Gentleman's Gentleman (His Lordship's Realm #1)
The Gentleman's Gentleman (His Lordship's Realm #1)
Samantha SoRelle | 2024 | LGBTQ+, Mystery, Romance
8
8.0 (2 Ratings)
Book Rating
thoroughly enjoyable tale!
Independent reviewer for Archaeolibrarian, I was gifted my copy of this book.

This book kinda follows on from anoth series by this author called His Lordship’s Mysteries but it’s not necessary to read those before this one. While Dominick and Alfie are mentioned, and this book takes place in Balcarres House where they live, they take no part in it. I’ve read books one and two in that set, but not all the series.

I really enjoyed this book! Set in Victorian times, it comes with all the problems that being a man of a certain persuasion brings.

And it’s those problems that hold for much of this book. Given as the only way to save Jarrett from the noose is to put his own neck in it, Gil keeps quiet about seeing Jarrett the night that man in the chapel died at the hands of another. And it wrecks his head, it really does. His attraction to Jarrett has been bubbling under his skin for months but seeing him in the one place he never thought he would, brings that attraction front and centre.

Jarrett, on the other hand, found himself getting all tongue tied and flustered around Gil, even if he wanted to get his hands on the son of a baron, Jarrett knows that he never will, since he is just a lowly valet.

Things move quickly in places, and slower in others and I liked that I was able to take a breath before the next bit ran away with itself. Once things started to come together, though, there was no catching that breath and I did not know whodunnit til everything became clear in the book! So very well played for keeping me on my toes!

Both Jarrett and Gil get a say, so we get it all in glorious detail. How Jarrett feels about the man who gets him out of jail. How Gil feels about his family and about the man whose kiss he will never forget, and we get it all, when each man teaches the other about their way. I loved how different they both are!

A thoroughly enjoyable read! I really must go back and read the other stories about Alfie and Dominick.

4 very good stars

*same worded review will appear elsewhere
  
Fox Tale (Sacred Emblems #0)
Fox Tale (Sacred Emblems #0)
Karen Hulene Bartell | 2024 | Paranormal, Romance
6
6.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
great reading about Japan.
Independent reviewer for Archaeolibrarian, I was gifted my copy of this book.

Ava is in Japan, writing a travel article. Meeting Chase, with his wonderful tales of Japanese myths and legends, helps her write a different take. But she never expected to meet up with her ex, Rafe, who left her two years ago without a word. Both men are hiking things. Can Ava choose?

I don't read reviews before I read a book, not anymore, but I will read them AFTER I've read said book, but before I write my review for one reason only: did they feel the same about this book as I did.

In this case: nope. They all loved this book and I . . . didn't.

I'm not saying I didn't like this book, I just found it hard work.

It's almost all written from Ava's point of view, in the first person. Rafe gets two very small bits, not even a chapter, in the third. I needed more from Rafe, and Chase, to be fair, to offset Ava.

There is a huge amount of repeated wording. Mostly around how Ava feels and thinks about Chase. "Apart from his silver hair, he looks young" or words to that effect are the most common. It began to get a bit much. "Seven hundred and seventy *something*, next winter" is another. The same things about the fox stories from Japanese lore pop up time and again too.

Apart from that, I liked this book. I couldn't see where it was going, nor how it was getting there, so when it did all go down, I was surprised and I liked the way it all happened.

Although there is the repetition of the lore, I did enjoy reading about the Japanese traditions and myths and legends.

There are some difficult topics here: death of a spouse, suicide, mental health issues and readers do need to be aware. Things are not how they seem, however, but the warning still needs to be made.

This is the first I've read of this author, and I always ask myself, will I read more? Not at this time. I won't say no to reading something else at a later date though.

3 good stars

*same worded review will appear elsewhere
  
Judging Duke (Liverpool Boys #4)
Judging Duke (Liverpool Boys #4)
Alex J Adams | 2024 | Contemporary, LGBTQ+, Romance
10
10.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
Well done, Alex, seriously well done.
Independent reviewer for BookSirens, I was gifted my copy of this book.

This is book 4 in the Liverpool Boys series. I STRONGLY recommend you read the previous three books before this one. It will give you a better picture of this group of men, and how they came to be in Liverpool and be friends. This *CAN* be read as a stand alone book, but I personally think you would get more out of it, if you read the others first.

I *AGAIN* quote my review for Ziggy : Well done, Alex, seriously well done.

Ziggy and Beau are dark, very dark reads and Liam's was a much lighter one. This book sits somewhere between them.

There are dark moments: what happened to Duke when he left for Liverpool wasn't easy reading. But I LOVED that we were kept waiting for the full story! You try to piece the clues together, and I got them wrong, and I thoroughly lost it for Duke when he tells Simon what happened. I cried, a lot, for Duke and I really didn't think I was going to for a time. I cried for the others too, so it was only fair!

Simon hasn't had a good time: slipping into porn wasn't his plan, but his brother, Robbie, needed the care only that sort of money could give him. The hatred he carries for Duke, after Robbie's accident was jumping off the page, but he does get over it, in spectacular fashion!

I loved that they talked, you know? Really talked about things and once the air was cleared, they jumped into a relationship that no one saw coming.

I loved that we were able to catch up with Ziggy and Mark; Beau and Kwan also take part here and while Liam and John are mentioned, they don't take part here.

A very fitting end, that sees all 4 boys happy and settled and so much in the love they never thought possible, given their histories.

I can't quite say Ms Adams saved the best for last, cos Ziggy will forever hold that spot but it's a close run thing!

Be mindful of the triggers.

5 full and shiny stars, but wish I could give more!

*same worded review will appear elsewhere
  
Make Them Bleed (Pretty Deadly Things #1)
Make Them Bleed (Pretty Deadly Things #1)
Logan Chance | 2025 | Contemporary, Crime, Romance
8
8.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
dark, but good.
Independent reviewer for BookSirens, I was gifted my copy of this book.

THis is book 1 in a new series by Logan Chance, and it spins off Men of MAddox Security (I think, since I read that series and Dean Maddox pops up here!) But you don't need to have read those for this to make sense. Arrow popped up at some point in the other series, is all.

Juno's sister was murdered, while she live streamed. And Juno sets about finding her killers and getting some justice, somehow. She resorts to the dark web, and meets a masked man who offers to help. Said masked man is none other than her best friend, Arrow, who puts trackers on her computer, so he could keeps a eye on what she was doing in the dark web. CAn he keep his identity a secret, while helping Juno??

Ohhhh! I liked this, a lot!

Juno and Arrow are perfect for each other, even if they have been friends for years!

What I loved most about this, was when Juno finds out who the masked man is, and what he has done, she's not mad, or angry. She understands WHY Arrow does what he does. What she does feel, though, is a whoosh (almost, since it's been brewing a while!) of attraction to Arrow and she forces the issue. Loved the way she does that.

It's dark, Arby, Juno's sister is murdered live streaming. There are some darker forces at work here but I did NOT see where they were coming from. So well played on that front, Mr Chance!

It's steamy, once Juno and Arrow get their act together!

It has some funnier moments, but I wouldn't call this a romantic comedy. Emotional in places, very much so.

A character, right at the beginning, has a say and I wasn't sure why he did for a long time. But it does become clear, in the end.

A huge supporting cast, who I believe will get their own stories. Looking forward to that.

But heads up about this one. The murder is live streamed, and on page, from a viewer's POV. Harrowing reading, but I do think it is needed.

4 VERY good stars

*same worded review will appear elsewhere
  
Captivated by Dominik (The Ralston Brothers)
Captivated by Dominik (The Ralston Brothers)
Sarah Westill | 2025 | Dystopia, Romance, Science Fiction/Fantasy
8
9.0 (2 Ratings)
Book Rating
I just felt I missing *something*
Independent reviewer for BookSirens, I was gifted my copy of this book.

This appears to be a spin off series, in the Gen-Heirs world. I need to comment at that before I start.

For ME, and I stress ME, I think I maybe should have read some other books in this world to get the feel of it fully. I found myself feeling (and ya'll know about me sharing my book feelings!) I was missing some vital information that I should know about this world. At more than one point, I thought I had missed something but no, it was jusy dropped in like I knew what they were talking about.

The most obvious one, was what happened to the world almost a thousand years ago. I have know no idea, not a single clue as to what happened. Did I miss something along the way? I dunno. But book feelings are important to share and I'm-a sharing.

What I did like, though, was that this was a different world and the rules are different. They think nothing of contracting out a marriage a year, and then they move on. Or I should say, the powers that be do. Sienna struggled. Dominik comes along, as bodyguard for a mission, and she is thrown for a loop when he changes the contract to 5 years. But Dominik is a Beast Master, to Alisater, a hawk. The animal knows before the person does.

I liked that Dominink let Sienna call all the shots in their personal relationship. He let her know that he WOULD touch her, but only when she asked. And he waits. He lets Sienna, at every point, move their relationship along. I loved that she trusted him enough to do that. It gets steamy and smexy once Sienna really lets Dominik in.

I liked that both Sienna and Dominik get a say, as does Alisater when he's talking to Dominik. The bird has opinions! You get into both their minds, as they navigate this new contract, the mission and their growing feelings.

I think I'll read something else by this author, maybe about Dominik's siblings. I might find what I'm missing here.

A thoroughly enjoyable 4 star read

*same worded review will appear elsewhere
  
Falling for my Ex's Twin (Falling For You #2)
Falling for my Ex's Twin (Falling For You #2)
Colette Davison | 2026 | Contemporary, LGBTQ+, Romance
10
10.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
Loved that Jimmy gave Flynn that time!
Independent reviewer for Archaeolibrarian, I was gifted my copy of this book.

This is book 2 in the Falling for You series. I have not read book 1, Falling for the Professor. As far as I can tell, that book sort of runs alongside this one and so I don't think it matters if you read that one or not. I want to now go back and read that book, because Angus plays a part here and you can pick things up as you go along.

Flynn moves to Leeds to get away from his ex, after their marriage ends. He knows that Jimmy, the ex's twin brother is at uni in Leeds but he never expected to reconnect. Because Jimmy hates Flynn, right?? One drunken night later, and Flynn is questioning everything he thought he knew about Jimmy and the ex' Billy.

I loved this!!

It's wonderful, it really is. A different take on the "my ex's brother" theme and I loved how it was delivered.

Jimmy is VERY different from his brother, Billy. And Flynn realises that quickly. But Flynn loved Billy and still does, and his feelings for Jimmy are confusing him greatly. I loved that Jimmy is patient, he has been waiting for Flynn for years. He knows that Flynn needs time to work through his feelings and emotions about everything and he will wait.

I loved that Jimmy gave Flynn that time. Flynn is trying to come to terms with the end of his marriage, but when others point out how Billy treated him, it makes Flynn think. When you are in that sort of relationship, you really do not see what's happening but after? The red flags are all there. And Flynn needs to come to terms with what Billy did to him.

But when Billy finds out?? The man takes it to the next level and Flynn's blinkers are left in the dust and he can see things much more clearly.

I loved that Jimmy's parents were happy for Flynn and Jimmy. They saw them together years ago, before Billy, so they were really pleased by it all.

AND!!

First person, present tense and multi POV! And I loved it! Maybe I'm getting over my dislike of books written this way, I didn't even notice til I was writing this review and filing it. SO, very well played!

5 full and shiny stars
  
A Ballooning Display (Bucket List Buddies #3)
A Ballooning Display (Bucket List Buddies #3)
JP Sayle, Lisa Oliver | 2026 | LGBTQ+, Paranormal, Romance
8
8.0 (2 Ratings)
Book Rating
loving the low drama/angst between the MCs
Independent reviewer for Archaeolibrarain, I was gifted my copy of this book.

This is book 3 in the Bucket List Buddies series, and while it can be read as a stand alone, I'm recommending you do read the other books first. This is a close knit group of friends and you need to be able to keep up with them all!

About that, actually! All of these guys seem to live and work in fairly close proximity, in a small town but they never cross paths until the events. Found it a bit strange, and my book brian said I need to mention it, so I am :-)

Toby takes a ride in a hot air balloon, has an accident and his bird is adamant he met their mate. Toby the man can't remember, but his bird can. Ernest knew, when he picked Toby up and took him to hospital, but they wouldn't let him in and now he has to find his mate, or go mad. Fortunately, his friends come good for him! But there is the minor subject of Ernest's ex!

What I'm loving about these books is there is very little drama between the two main characters. Lots of others causing drama, and angst and issues, but between the pair, there is little. And sometimes you really do need that!

The animals are different too, here we have Ernest who is an elephant, and Toby is a bird. A small bird, but I don't think it says what sort. The small bird has A LOT to say, though, when said ex turns up trying to get Ernest back. I could see a little bird, sitting on the shoulder of an elephant squawking it's little head off!

It's steamy, as these books are, but I loved that Toby manages to talk himself out of his 3+ date rule. Made me think of my own 5 date rule, and how I managed to wiggle myself out of it! made me chuckle.

Rick is next, he works with Ernest on the flower farm (again, not sure it says what sort of flowers!) and of course, there is Remy and Sven and I am LOVING the epilogues!

4 very VERY good stars

*same worded review will appear elsewhere
  
Christa's Obsession (Obsession #3)
Christa's Obsession (Obsession #3)
JP Sayle | 2025 | LGBTQ+, Paranormal, Romance
10
10.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
I really loved watching Wanda give herself to Christa, emotionally more than physically, to be honest.
Independent reviewer for Archaeolibrarian, I was gifted my copy of this book.

This is book 3 in the Obsessions series, and there is some overlap between this and the previous two books. I think you *SHOULD* read them before this one. Silas is Wanda's brother and it will give you a better picture of the dryad/tree relationship. Wanda's is quite different.

After being kidnapped by demons and rescued, Wanda wants nothing to do with the entire demonkind. But her brother is mated to one, and Dakata saved her life, along with a couple of others. But why, at the back of her mind, is Christa lurking? She is Dakata's sister but Wnada cannot remember her being at her rescue. And then, they touch, and both ladies know the other is their Blissful One. But Wanda hates demons? How can she be mated to one??

Ms Sayle writes MM books, has done for a while and I have followed her from the beginning. THIS is her first foray into FF books, and I was mighty, MIGHTY curious about Wanda and her trees in both previous books, so pairing those two things together, made me fully immerse myself into this book.

I was NOT disappointed! I loved how it all played out between Christa and Wanda, I really did!

Oh, and the trees?? All FEMALE trees, which I don't believe was mentioned in earlier books. And those trees know just how to please their dryad, and her demon mate! I will never look at a peach in the same way :-) Steamy and smexy, that's what these two ladies are, along with the peach trees and I really thought Sayle nailed those scenes.

This book is mostly about Wanda letting go of her fears and fully committing to Christa. The visit from the Demon King, Asmodeus, helps a great deal, and the family dinner with Christa's siblings does too. I really loved watching Wanda give herself to Christa, emotionally more than physically, to be honest.

Given the epilogue, and what I've seen about the next two books, they all overlap somewhat. I actually liked that. It's a bit different, is all, and gives spoilers for future books.

I absolutely cannot fault this, I really can't!

5 full and shiny stars!

*same worded review will appear elsewhere